Holographic Storage in Game Systems

Implications: * Nintendo and InPhase are apparently doing some joint work on holographic storage  * InPhase has been pursuing a holographic storage system (primarily for write once archive applications) for several years  * Any holographic storage product likely will not be in a Nintendo game system for several years  * It is likely that Nintendo will need some other storage device such as a hard disk drive for its current Wii storage limitations

Analysis: InPhase Technology in Longmont Colorado has been working for many years on holographic storage on an optical disc, using technologies originally developed at Bell Laboratories.  Although the company has made several commitments for delivery of 300 GB write-once discs for archive applications including professional entertainment content archiving over the last three years there has been no official shipment of volume product.  At this point it is not clear when the company will begin to ship product or how long the start-up’s venture funding will last.  

Holographic storage has never been made into a commercial product.   There are many components in an holographic storage system that have never been produced in the volumes and in the space required for commercial or even consumer applications.  Shrinking these components and a getting reliable storage system has taken more effort than originally estimated.  As is often the case, pioneering companies may develop a technology but not be able to introduce it before their funding runs out.  It remains to be seen whether InPhase will be able to cross this particular chasm.  

It was recently revealed that Nintendo has a Joint Development Agreement with InPhase Technology on holographic storage technology.  Nintendo is a leader in electronic game technology, making the very popular Wii game system.  Currently announced InPhase technology would provide a 300 GB cartridge but this was for write once applications.  A physical distribution media with InPhase is also possible.  InPhase has said that their holographic technology could deliver storage discs with capacities as high as 1.6 TB.  Such high capacity would enable very high resolution game content as well as game storage.